Brighton-Le-Sands restaurant Neptunes closes down

The closure of a Brighton-Le-Sands institution has cast doubts on business in the area, as shops face a seasonal ‘boom and bust’ trade.

The closure of a popular restaurant on the Brighton-Le-Sands strip has raised questions about business prospects in the area, as shops weather a seasonal “boom and bust” trade, soaring rent prices and cost-of-living-pinched customers.

It comes after strip stalwart Neptunes quietly closed down this month after 31 years of service.

The news shocked community members and fellow business owners who say the area enjoyed a steady stream of trade – in the warmer months.

But restaurateurs like Babel Cafe owner, Richard Hanna, admit Brighton-Le-Sands faced a glaring pitfall during winter.

“Winter is turning Brighton into a ghost town,” he said.

“The streets are basically empty, there are a lot of similar restaurants, and there are not enough people coming into the area.

Neptunes closed down this month. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

Babel cafe owner Richard Hanna said he preferred business during the pandemic compared to “what it is like now”. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

“There are lots of shops that are closed and they will stay closed for a long period of time … it’s just not sustainable with the rent.”

The closure of Neptunes, headed by licensee John Kazzi, will make way for Dosa Hunt Indian only a few years after the Grand Parade site received a million-dollar renovation.

Although the reason for the closure remains unknown, Mr Hanna said Neptunes enjoyed far more longevity than most vendors in the area who come and go in as little as three to six month turnovers.

This turnover, he pointed out, was more noticeable on the adjacent Bay St where his cafe is located, compared to the slightly better fairing Grand Parade.

However, Mr Hanna said most shops were struggling as there had been no “bounce back” from Covid-19 – and supports such as rental relief and Dine and Discover were now gone.

“I prefer (what it was like during Covid-19) to what it is like now,” he said.

“Neptunes was iconic in the area and they have closed down so what’s happening is worrying.”

The cafe owner wasn’t the only one alarmed by the number of shops closing in the last few years, with nearby Manoosh not even opening its doors before the plug was pulled.

Brighton-Le-Sands main business strip is marked with empty shopfronts. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

Manoosh was put back on the market before it even opened. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

Sippy Sundays has stood empty for months after opening in April 2022. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

Kassem Chendeb said he only opened his cafe, Nineteen 43, four months ago and was already looking towards summer sales with a $3000 weekly rent over his head.

“Literally for four months now we’ve been losing money, we’re paying out-of-pocket rent and we sort of expected when we first started for it to be slow, but the whole rent out-of-pocket is crazy,” he said.

“If you’re looking at the change from summer to winter it’s a completely different place, it’s a ghost down … and there is no initiative from the council to do anything (about it).”

Mr Kassem said most businesses in the area save up a “winter fund” from money made in the summer just to survive the year.

However, he said without more local events and a change to footpath trading charges, times would remain tough for businesses in Brighton.

“I know people who live here that go to Bondi for the winter festival and it’s rubbish because they’re meant to be our local community … but there is no incentive (to stay),” Mr Kassem said.

“We used to open four nights a week and now we do three nights a week because there is no point. Even Friday, Saturday and Sunday we’re losing money but I’ve kept it open for my staff.

Neptunes received a million-dollar makeover in 2018 before its recent closure. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

According to a sign in the window, the Grand Parade site will be turned into a Dosa Hut Indian. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

“Because there is nothing here for people to go to, they would rather go to a winter event (in other suburbs) than come to Brighton.”

Despite being left out in the cold, Mr Kassem said events like the recent Greek Festival showed signs of potential for the area if council were to get on board with reviving the slow season.

The opening of Greek food pioneer Peter Conistis’ 350-seat restaurant Ammos in May has also injected a sense of new life into the scene.

But if the empty tables, closed signs, and boarded up shop fronts are anything to go by, it seems as if Brighton-Le-Sands will still hold its breath until summer arrives.